Professor Julie Morrissey

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Sciences, University of Leicester

Scientific Background

Research Interests

I am interested in how bacteria adapt to different environmental conditions to change their behaviour to increase colonisation and infection. I work with several bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus and Moraxella catarrhalis) investigating stress adaptation mechanisms, including particulate matter (black carbon, brake dust) and metals (copper). Our team also investigate the impact of pollutants on host-bacterial interaction using human epithelial infection models showing that direct interaction of pollutants with bacterial pathogens increases infectivity and interaction with human respiratory cells. I am very enthusiastic about supporting my students and my previous students have gone on to academia, Food Standards Agency, Foreign Office, industry, aerospace engineering and several are PDRAs in our team or with collaborators.

Research Groups

Microbial Sciences and Infectious Disease Centre (LeMID)

NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical Threats and Hazards

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: supportive, collaborative, outcome-oriented

Provision of Training

We prefer to take responsibility for your technical training as a team with myself and my experienced post docs/PhD students at first, leading to more independence later.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to be kept up to date, and will expect to see evidence of method development/data generation results on a weekly basis. If these progression criteria are not met we will always discuss a plan of action together.

Communication

I am happy to discuss issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be face-to-face. I have an open door policy, but my pattern of being contactable for an instant response is not predictable.

Work Patterns

Work in my lab requires being present on site (be it in a laboratory or at a field site) during the core hours of 10am - 5pm (or a subset if working part time).

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Project Title

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Project Title

Secondary Supervisor(s):

University of Registration:

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Animal Health and Welfare, Microbial Food Safety, Plant and Crop Science)
Renewable Resources and Clean Growth (Bio-energy, Industrial Biotechnology)
Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, Plant Science, Soil Science, Stem Cells, Structural Biology, Systems Biology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Diet and Health, Pharmaceuticals, Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

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Co-supervisor on a project / projects with supervisor name + link.